Marathi artiste Ashwini Ekbote dies during performance on stage

Classical danseuse Ashwini Ekbote tragically passed away on Saturday after collapsing on stage during a performance in Pune.

Classical danseuse Ashwini Ekbote tragically passed away on Saturday after collapsing on stage during a performance in Pune, according to report.

Classical danseuse Ashwini Ekbote tragically passed away on Saturday after she suffered a heart attack during a stage performance in Pune. The 44-year-old, who had also acted in several plays, was performing at the Bharat Natyamandir on Saturday when she collapsed on stage, a police official said. She was taken to a nearby hospital where she was declared dead, the official said.

Ashwini marked her presence at the highest levels with her fine performances through her characters on stage, small screen as well as silver screen.

After establishing herself as a fine perfomer with Marathi plays like Eka Kshanaat, Nandi and Tya Tighanchi Goshta, Ashwini had made her film debut with Akleche Kande (2001) and went on to star in Dumkata (2007) and Baavare Prem He (2014). Her other movies were Mahaguru, Taptapadi and Coffee Aani Barach Kahi that brought her fame.

In February, this year, two of her films were released simultaneously including Mumbai Time, in which she plays an important role of the protagonist’s motivating mother and Marathi Tigers where she played the role of a Kannada woman.

Apart from her performances, last year the actress made the headlines after alleging that she faced rude behaviour from her co-passanger while travelling to Pune.

Ashwini Ekbote marked her presence at the highest levels with her fine performances through her characters on stage, small screen as well as silver screen. (Loksatta)

Hearing the news, her near and dear once took to Twitter to condole her death.

Ashwini’s friends from the Marathi film industry took to social media to share their shock at the news. Actress Sonali Kulkarni wrote on Twitter, “This is extremely shocking!!! Dear friend Ashwini Ekbote no more! So young, so fit, so full of life..! RIP.”

This is extremely shocking!!! Dear friend Ashwini Ekbote no more! So young, so fit, so full of life..! RIP ????????????

Another reaction of filmmaker and actor Bhagyesh Joshi came. In a tweet, she said, “She always treated me like a son on set. My first casting of script. Just can’t accept that she is no more. RIP #AshwiniEkbote.” Actress Sonali Kulkarni in a tweet said, “This is extremely shocking!!! Dear friend Ashwini Ekbote no more! So young, so fit, so full of life..! RIP.”